Andy Whitfield

Andrew Whitfield (17 October 1971 – 11 September 2011) was a Welsh actor.[1] He is best known for his leading role in the Starz television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.[2]

Andy Whitfield
Whitfield at the San Diego Comic-Con International, July 2010
Born
Andrew Whitfield

(1971-10-17)17 October 1971
Amlwch, Anglesey, Wales
Died11 September 2011(2011-09-11) (aged 39)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active2004–2011
Spouse
  • Vashti Whitfield
    ​
    (m. 2001)​
Children2

Early life and career

Whitfield and his family came to live in Bull Bay, Anglesey, Wales in 1976.[3] He attended Ysgol Gynradd Amlwch and then Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones until the age of 18.[4][5] He studied civil engineering at Sheffield Hallam University in England.[6] He moved to Australia in 1999 to work as an engineer in Lidcombe, before later settling in Sydney.[7][8] He appeared in several Australian television series, such as Opening Up, All Saints, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters, and McLeod's Daughters.

Whitfield gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film Gabriel.[9] He also starred in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which was filmed in New Zealand.[9] Whitfield also appeared in the Australian thriller The Clinic starring opposite Tabrett Bethell (of Legend of the Seeker fame) which was shot in Deniliquin.[10]

In August 2010, Whitfield teamed up with Freddie Wong and created a 2-minute YouTube video named "Time Crisis", based on the video game series of the same name. [11] Whitfield made a brief, uncredited voice-only appearance in the prequel mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, which premiered on 21 January 2011.[12]

A documentary titled Be Here Now premiered at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival.[13] It follows Whitfield and his family as he undergoes chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.[14] It was later released on Netflix as Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story.[15]

Illness and death

In March 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma and began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand.[16] This delayed production of season two of Spartacus: Vengeance.[16] While waiting for Whitfield's treatment and expected recovery, Starz produced a six-part prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, with only a brief voiceover from the actor. Although declared cancer-free in June 2010, a routine medical check in September 2010 revealed a relapse[17] and Whitfield was compelled to abandon the role.[18][19][20] Starz recast Australian actor Liam McIntyre as Whitfield's successor.[21]

Whitfield died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 11 September 2011, 18 months after his initial cancer diagnosis.[1][22]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Gabriel Gabriel
2010 The Clinic Cameron Marshall
2015 Be Here Now Himself Released posthumously
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 All Saints Matthew Parkes "Opening Up" (Season 2, episode 7)
2008 The Strip Charlie Palmer Episodes 2 and 7
2008 Packed to the Rafters Nick Leigh "All in the Planning" (Season 1, episode 10)
2008 McLeod's Daughters Brett Samuels "Nowhere to Hide" (Season 8, episode 4)
2010 Spartacus: Blood and Sand Spartacus Lead role, 13 episodes
2011 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Spartacus (voice only, uncredited) "The Bitter End" (Episode 6)

References
  1. "Spartacus star Whitfield dies, age 39". Stuff.com.nz. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  2. Spartacus: Vengeance episode 201 Archived 19 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine ending credits at 54:00 time mark
  3. Powell, David (15 March 2010). "Anglesey's Spartacus star Andy Whitfield battling cancer". North Wales Live. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  4. "SPARTACUS: Our son's battle with cancer and rise to fame". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  5. Awdur (15 July 2021). "Andy Whitfield". Cyngor Tref Amlwch Town Council. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  6. University of Sheffield Alumni Office & Sheffield Hallam University Alumni Office in England.
  7. Crump, Eryl (20 September 2010). "Anglesey-born star pulls out of Spartacus series after cancer returns". Daily Post, North Wales News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  8. Amatangelo, Amy (22 January 2010). "Andy Whitfield: A warrior made". Boston Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  9. "Aussie stars in sex and violence epic". Ninemsn. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  10. Miller, Gerri (21 January 2010). "Ecollywood: Glenn Close, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Eric Stoltz, Lucy Lawless and more". Ecollywood. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  11. Video on YouTube
  12. Kennedy, Gerrick D. (7 August 2010). "'Spartacus': 'Gods of the Arena' or gods of TV?". TCA Press Tour. Retrieved 7 October 2010 – via Los Angeles Times.
  13. "Los Angeles Film Festival Unveils Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  14. "The Film". coming-soon-dev. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  15. "Be Here Now | Netflix". www.netflix.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  16. Ausiello, Michael. "'Spartacus' delayed as star Andy Whitfield undergoes cancer treatment". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  17. "Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma Killed 'Spartacus' Actor Andy Whitfield". au.ibtimes.com. 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  18. "'Spartacus' Star Andy Whitfield Is Cancer-Free & Ready To Return to the Starz Series". Deadline Hollywood. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  19. "Official Starz statement regarding Andy Whitfield". Starz. 19 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  20. "Ailing Whitfield leaves 'Spartacus'". upi.com. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  21. "Liam Mcintyre Chosen To Play Title Role in New 'Spartacus'". Starz.mediaroom.com. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  22. "Spartacus star Andy Whitfield, 39, dies in Sydney". News.com.au. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
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